DAMASCUS // Long before the devastating bombings of Iraq's finance and foreign ministries on August 19, the Baghdad authorities were well aware that dissident Iraqi Baathists, and numerous other groups advocating the violent overthrow of the Iraqi government, were in Syria.
Various insurgent factions and their political representatives, including members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party, held a televised conference at a cultural centre in Damascus last year. Delegates from Sunni, Shiite and secular backgrounds took turns denouncing the US occupation and the Iraqi authorities for collaborating with foreign invaders. The US forces should be forcibly kicked out, they said, and the Iraqi government should be evicted with them.
Just last month, 30 or so members of the Supreme Leadership for Jihad and Liberation, a network of more than half a dozen insurgent organisations, including the Iraqi Baath Party, held a summit meeting. Over kebabs and spit-roasted chicken after the conference they discussed how to push the US military out of Iraq and how to topple the government.
So, although it is not something the Syrian authorities make a point of boasting about, their hosting of various Iraqi rejectionist groups also is not something they have ever gone out of their way to hide. Baghdad certainly knew that Saddam loyalists, bent on its destruction, were in Syria back in February when it dispatched Alaa al Jawadi as the first Iraqi ambassador to Damascus in more than 20 years.
And the Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al Maliki, knew as much when he made his visit to the Syrian President Bashar Assad on August 18 for a meeting that established a joint Syrian-Iraq strategic council. All the talk on the day was of Syrian-Iraqi relations, long strained, entering a new era of economic, political and security co-operation.
The following day, two massive lorry bombs exploded in Baghdad, killing 95 people and wounding more than 1,000 others.
While acts of mass murder are routine in the new Iraq with various factions typically blamed - Iranian-supported death squads, Saudi jihadis, Syrian Islamic extremists, even Afghan or Pakistani fighters - these blasts, unlike previous ones, turned into a major international incident.
On the day of the bombs Iraqi security forces say they caught suspects and, within four days, they had extracted a confession from one, a former police officer, that he had jointly masterminded the explosion with Iraqi Baathist colleagues based in Syria. The Iraqi government angrily and publicly demanded Syria stop its support for "terrorist groups" and withdrew its ambassador. Damascus responded in kind.
Of course, Iraq's Baathists are hardly averse to murdering their fellow countrymen. They did it for decades under Saddam Hussein. And they have been involved in more death and destruction since the US-led invasion of 2003. Likewise, Syria has long stood accused of fuelling the violent chaos in Iraq by deliberately allowing militants to cross its border, allegations it has always denied.
Nevertheless, serious questions remain over the claims against the Syrian-based Baathists. The timing of the allegations is also curious and, it would seem, deeply politicised.
Iraq's security forces, struggling to cope with a powerful and recently revitalised insurgency, are rarely effective at catching militants, so their quick success in this case is suspicious. And televised confessions hardly constitute proof in any reliable judicial system especially given the reputation the Iraqi army and police have for torturing their suspects.
Another reason to doubt the involvement of Syrian-based pro-Saddamists was raised when the Islamic State of Iraq, an al Qa'eda-style extremist group, claimed responsibility for the bombs. Although both are involved in the insurgency, the secular Baathists and Islamic al Qa'eda are hardly natural allies and the Baathists have denied any connection.
The Iraqi Baathists in Syria themselves denied any role in the bombing. In interviews given to The National before the attacks, an official with the Iraqi Baath Party insisted that shedding Iraqi blood was forbidden, and that various insurgency operations targeting the US military had been cancelled because they would result in civilian casualties. After the bombing, the Syrian-based Iraqi opposition alliance, including the Baathists, rejected suggestions they were responsible. Recalling an ambassador is always a theatrical act of protest, rather than a constructive step designed to solve problems, because it cuts off direct dialogue; the Turkish foreign minister has now been drafted into a round of shuttle diplomacy and tomorrow will fly between Baghdad and Damascus to try to defuse the crisis.
That has further bemused the Syrian authorities, who immediately condemned the bombings as terrorism. Given that Iraq and Syria's respective leaders had just set up a joint strategic council and had not long exchanged ambassadors, Damascus says it expected Iraq would have used that diplomatic channel to catch any suspects. If evidence or arrest warrants against the accused had been issued, Syria says it would have honoured them. The answer as to why this diplomatic storm happened now, not when previous Baathists attacks had taken place, perhaps lies in Iraqi domestic politics and recent efforts to pull Iraqi Baathists out of the insurgency and into national political life.
Mr al Maliki's Shiite-led government has taken few practical steps at national reconciliation, which critics say has only encouraged militancy. Still excluded by punitive de-Baathification legislation and with the Baath partly still outlawed, members of the former regime and the old Iraqi army have little incentive to lay down their weapons and join the political process.
In the absence of such moves, the US military began its own. Earlier this year it held meetings with Iraqi insurgents in Turkey, prompting heavy criticism from the al Maliki government. Then this month a US military delegation to Damascus, a sign of improving Syrian relations with Washington, was reported to have discussed a plan that would include Syria mediating with the Baathists after moderates within the Iraqi Baath party indicated they were willing to join the political process before the next elections in January.
The Damascus representative of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, part of Iraq's governing Shiite coalition, had previously advocated just such a role for Syria in an interview, saying that in hosting Iraqi Baathists, Syria was keeping open a vital channel for negotiations.
But the US-Syrian move also sparked an angry rebuke from Mr al Maliki, who apparently does not share the desire to hold talks with Baathists.
If Iraqi Baathists living in Syria were involved in the August 19 bombings, this latest political crisis has done nothing to help bring the perpetrators to justice. The Syrians have made it clear they will not be expelling Baathists, just as they did not hand Mr al Maliki or his colleagues, many of whom once lived safely in Damascus, to Saddam when he ruled Baghdad and they were the insurgents.
What this diplomatic storm does appear to have achieved, however, is to block efforts at national Iraqi reconciliation that were gaining momentum. And that means the war in Iraq will continue to rumble on.
psands@thenational.ae
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Jetour T1 specs
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How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
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Changes in eating habits
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Refuses to go to school
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Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Game Of Thrones Season Seven: A Bluffers Guide
Want to sound on message about the biggest show on television without actually watching it? Best not to get locked into the labyrinthine tales of revenge and royalty: as Isaac Hempstead Wright put it, all you really need to know from now on is that there’s going to be a huge fight between humans and the armies of undead White Walkers.
The season ended with a dragon captured by the Night King blowing apart the huge wall of ice that separates the human world from its less appealing counterpart. Not that some of the humans in Westeros have been particularly appealing, either.
Anyway, the White Walkers are now free to cause any kind of havoc they wish, and as Liam Cunningham told us: “Westeros may be zombie land after the Night King has finished.” If the various human factions don’t put aside their differences in season 8, we could be looking at The Walking Dead: The Medieval Years.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
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- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
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- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
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- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Fixtures and results:
Wed, Aug 29:
- Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
- Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
- UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs
Thu, Aug 30: UAE v Nepal; Hong Kong v Singapore; Malaysia v Oman
Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal
Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore
Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu, Sep 6: Final
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Rest
(Because Music)
Scoreline
Real Madrid 1
Ronaldo (53')
Atletico Madrid 1
Griezmann (57')
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
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Mane points for safe home colouring
- Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
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Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Brave CF 27 fight card
Welterweight:
Abdoul Abdouraguimov (champion, FRA) v Jarrah Al Selawe (JOR)
Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (TUN) v Alex Martinez (CAN)
Welterweight:
Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA) v Khamzat Chimaev (SWE)
Middleweight:
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Rustam Chsiev (RUS)
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) v Christofer Silva (BRA)
Super lightweight:
Alex Nacfur (BRA) v Dwight Brooks (USA)
Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) v Tariq Ismail (CAN)
Chris Corton (PHI) v Zia Mashwani (PAK)
Featherweight:
Sulaiman (KUW) v Abdullatip (RUS)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) v Mohammad Al Katib (JOR)
Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m. Winner: Rio Angie, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,600m. Winner: Trenchard, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m. Winner: Mulfit, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 1,200m. Winner: Waady, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 2,000m. Winner: Tried And True, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
9.25pm:Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m. Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
UAE SQUAD
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Mohamed Usman (vice captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Tahir Mughal, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Abdul Shakoor, Sultan Ahmed, CP Rizwan
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills